Baby Naming Predictions For 2022: Things Are Going To Get Weirder Than Ever

Remember back when Gwyneth naming her daughter Apple was the strangest thing people had heard of? Well, if you can believe it or not, that was already 17 years ago. But, in that time, baby names have gotten more and more wild. The cherry on top of this odd name phenomenon? X Æ A-12 pronounced X Ash A Twelve, who is Elon Musk’s son. That’s a whole other conversation.

As the world continues to turn, people continue to come up with — um, should I say, unique names all the time. And according to a recent article on Nameberry, that trend won’t be abating anytime soon. The predictions are that 2022 will feature naming trends in some very intriguing categories: Escapist, names ending in S, and of course Bridgerton character names are only three themes on the top 10.

Honestly, I love looking at baby names. So while I was poring over these lists, I found a few I love. But then there was … Baby? No, I’m not talking about the list of baby names. I’m talking about naming your baby, Baby.

Apparently, people naming their babies Baby is a thing. It’s light and playful. Can you really say Baby without smiling? But at the same time, once they grow out of their adorable toddler phase, will it have the same ring to it? I guess two feuding friends thought so. Although Jessica Hart, an Australian model and the founder of Luma Beauty, named her daughter Baby-Rae in late 2020, her friend Sasha Benz, owner of Wyld Blue and Wyld Black, was on the Baby naming bandwagon back in 2018. Well, Baybi-Blue, that is. Either way, naming your child Baby — or something that sounds like it — is nothing that new.

What’s In A Name?

But I have to wonder, why do people do it? Why go to such lengths to have such a unique name? My first daughter was born in 2012, back before overtly unique names and gender reveals were a thing. The name I chose for her seemed unique at the time and yet ended up in the top 20 girls’ names year after year, according to babycenter.com. But you know what, it’s not that big a deal. Literally, there are over seven and a half billion people in the world, so statistically, it’s gonna happen. Yes, some people are going to have the same names. Yet it baffles me to no end the lengths people will go to have their baby’s name stand out.

People choose names based on all different reasons. It might be a family name. (Yes, one of my brothers has a nifty little roman numeral IV at the end of his title.) Or maybe the origins of the name have cultural roots. There is no wrong way to name your child; after all, they’re yours. But someday they’ll be independent people, and being cognizant of how the name you give them can impact them later in life is important.

For example, employers make assumptions all the time based on a job applicant’s name. They might take a guess as to your child’s race or ethnicity, or even their gender. Don’t get me wrong, they shouldn’t, but it doesn’t mean that they won’t. In fact, it’s downright illegal and a violation of the Civil Rights Act. But chances they ever actually fess up to that, slim to none.

Unique Baby Names Don’t Have To Be Nonsensical

Take heed, my prospective parents. Whatever is trending right now might not be when your kids grow up, so choose with caution. Yes, Kim Kardashian, I’m talking to you. Baby doesn’t look quite so cray compared to North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm, does it?

In a time where creativity and quirkiness allow everyone to express themselves, you can’t go wrong (well, maybe, a bit overboard.) Whatever you name your baby, remember they’ll be carrying it with them for at least the next 18 years. Something tells me we might see more and more Dr. Babys (I mean after all, there’s a Dr. Marijuana Pepsi Vandyck) or your Honorable Chardonnay in the next few years. And honestly, if that’s the strangest thing we’re dealing with in the year 2040, I won’t complain.